Separator



J. c. HoBBs 2,127,917

SEPARATOR Original Filed Nov. 20, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 23, 1938.

BY r ,(/uj/ ATTORNEYS Allg. 23, 1938. 1 C, H0555 2,127,917

SEPARATOR originar Filed Nov. 2o, 192e. s sheets-sheet 2 JM INVENTOR ATTORNEYS J. C. HOBBS Aug. 23, 1938.

SEPARATOR Original Filed Nov. 20, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR James C. Hobbs ATTORNEY Patented Aug.23,193s 2,127,917

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEPARATOB James C. Hobbs, Painesville, Ohio Continuation o1' application Serial No. 149,558.

November 20, 1926. This application September 20, 1933, Serial No. 690,295

17 Claims. (Cl. 122-491) My present invention relates in general to an flcations; Fig. 6 is a section similar to Fig. 1 improved method of and apparatus for liquid showing another modification; Fig. 7 is a section and gas separation, and more particularly, to a taken on the line 'I--l of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a method of and apparatus for removing moisture section similar to Fig. 2 showing another modifrom a mixture of steam and water in a steam iication; Fig. 9 is a side view on anenlarged 5 bi11` scale of a portion of one of the baffles; Fig. 10

Apparatus heretofore devised for this purpose is a section on the line Ill-I0 of Fig. 9; and has been mainly characterized by baille construc- Fig. 11 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale tions based upon little appreciation of the fundaof the modification shown in Figs. 6 and 7, cermental laws of liquid and gas separation and due tuin parts being omitted or broken away to 10 to which defective design little or no advance clarify the view.

in separator design has occurred. Prior steam The invention is hereinafter described in conand water separators, for example, have required nection with the separation of moisture from wet the Wet steam to pass therethrough in a flow steam in a boiler steam and water drum i to 15 path in which the steam at high velocities is which tubes 2 opening along one side thereof de- 15 repeatedly directed against substantially perliver a mixture of steam and Water, or wet" pendicular baille surfaces, whereby the entraned steam. Nipples 3 (one of which is seen in Figs. moisture spatters on the baille surfaces and is 1 and 6) lead from the bottom or water space again picked up by the steam in a more nely of the drum I to downtake headers (not shown) divided form which ls much more diilicuit to in the usual manner and a dry steam pipe 4 20 separate. Furthermore, prior constructions have leads from the upper part of the steam space oi failed to make proper provision for removal of the drum I to a steam main (not shown). any moisture separated from the main iiow path A steam and water separator is positioned lonof the steam and in such cases the moisture gitudinally of the drum I between the circulators separated is mostly picked up by a subsequent 2 and the steam outlet 4 and is supported in a 25 part of the steam stream. The high pressure baille extending diametrically of the drum and drop and defective performance inherent in such formed by metal strips 5 and Ii which are welded prior constructions have been mainly responsible or. the inside of the drum and extend longitufor their lack of extensive use. dinally thereof along approximately diametrical My present application is a continuation of my lines as shown at 1. Angle baille plates B and 30 prior application, Serial No. 149,558. filed Nov. 8' are mounted on the strips 5 and 6 respectively 20. 1926. v by means of longitudinal flanges 9 and 9' along The main object of my invention is the protheir edges bolted to angles carried by the strips vision of a. liquid and gas separator which is 5 and 6. These plates 8 and 8' are spaced apart characterized by its effective operation, compactto provide an opening Ill between them. The 35 ness, and simplicity and relatively low cost of plate 8 is preferably somewhat wider than the construction. A more specific object is the proplate 8' so that the opening IU will be located vision of a method of liquid and gas separation above the normal water level in the drum. Rows in which the forces of inertia, adhesion and of spaced inclined channels Il and I2 respecgravity are eiiectively coordinated for eiliciently tively are mounted on opposite sides of the 40 separating the liquid and gas and rapidly replates 8 and 8' with the spaces between the chanmoving the separated liquid. A further specific nels on each side staggered relative to the spaces object is the provision oi' a separator in which between the channels on the opposite. side and all oi the separating surfaces are arranged for the flanges of the channels in both rows extenda substantially tangential flow of gas with reing in the same direction, that is. toward the 45 spect thereto and the separated liquid is caused side of the drum through which the mixture of to rapidly drop into a zone of low gas turbulence steam and water enters. As shown in Figs. 2

from which it is continuously removed by gravity. and 3, the channels II and I2 are clamped to the The invention will be understood from the deplates 8 and 8' by means of bolts I3. saddles I4 scription in connection with the accompanying being provided at one end of the bolts to straddle drawings in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section the ilanges on adjacent channels I2. Corrugated through a steam and water drum; Fig. 2 is .a thin metal strips l5 are located in each of the section taken on the line 2 2 oi Fig. 1; Fig. 3 channels II between the iianges thereof with the is a front view oi' Fig. 2; Figs. 4 and 5 are seccorrugations extending parallel to the iianges.

tions similar to Fig. 2 showing different modi- A series oi' openings are provided along each 55 slnuosity or corrugation of the strips I5, as most clearly shown in Figs. 9 and l0, by striking out the metal ati spaced points interrnedate the height of each corrugation to make downwardly directed V-shaped openings 25 for the passage of steam. In the modification shown in Fig. 4, saddles I4' extend across the rear edges of the channels II to tie the channels Il and I2 to the plates l and Il.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, the saddles are dispensed with and the bolts Il pass through the webs of the channels II and I2 to retain the same in place.

In the modication shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the baille plate B' is dispensed with and thin plates 2li and 20 are bolted to the plate 5 and the strip 8 respectively, and are spaced apart to provide an opening 2I similar to the opening IU in Fig. l. Z-bar holding members 22 are bolted to the plate Il and the strip 8, respectively, on the sides thereof opposite the plates an and zo'.

A plurality of sinuous or corrugated strips 23 are clamped by means o! the bolts 24 between the plates 2t and 2Il' and the holding members 22. The strips 23 have wire screens 26 or the like interposed therebetween to prevent the strips 22 from nesting. Portions of the corrugated strips 22 are struck out to form the V- shaped openings 25 as heretofore described. The struck-up metal at each steam passage in the corrugated plate results in the formation of a series of deflecting surfaces projecting into the troughs of the corrugations along the opposite sides and intermediate the height thereof. The deecting surfaces are arranged at a small acute angle, preferably about 7, relative to the adjacent surface of the corrugation to cause the steam entering the corresponding opening 25 to pass downwardly along the corresponding side of the corrugation trough before passing rearwardly and upwardly to an adjacent opening 25 in the next plate.

The modification shown in Fig. 8 is similar to that shown in Fig. 1 except that the channels I2 are dispensed with and I-shaped members 30 are substituted therefor and sinuous or corrugated metal strips I5' are also installed between the rearwardly and upwardly projecting flanges of the I-beams.

In the operation of the separator constructions shown in Figs. 1 3, 4, 5 and 8, wet steam entering the drum passes between the channels I2 or I-beams III along the front of the separator and then into the spaces between the anges ot each channel in the rear row. The wet steam passing through each inter-channel space enters the space between two troughs of the corrugated plate and divides into two main streams, each dividing into a large number of small streams passing through deviating paths towards inter-channel spaces at opposite sides of the channel II. Each small stream passes through an opening 25 in one of the adjacent trough walls and on entering the corresponding trough space is caused to iiow downwardly for a limited extent by the inclined deector plate at the inner side o! said wail opening. The small stream then changes direction and passes out through an opening 2l in the opposite wall of the trough and repeats the now path described until the inter-channel space is reached. Moisture is separated from theiiowing steam by adhesion to the trough walls during its substantially tangential iiow thereaiong and also by inertia on the successive changes in direction ot the steam.

The arrangement of the openings 25 intermediate the height oi' the trough walls permits the separated moisture to drop into the bottom of each trough, which being out of the main steam path of flow, constitutes a zone of low turbulence. The arrangement of the corrugated plates at an oblique angle to the direction of flow of the entering steam, which angle is preferably such as to insure a gravity ow of the separated moisture along the bottoms of the troughs oi the corrugated plates and minimize the amount of separated moisture subsequently picked up. The relatively dry steam leaving the rear or upper side of the separator passes into the space communicating with the dry steam pipe 4, through which is passes to a steam main.

The construction and steam ow in the modiiication shown in Figs. 6 and '7 is illustrated in detail in Fig, ll, wherein the arrows indicate the general path oi' ow of a stream of wet steam entering an opening 25 in the lowermost baille. The stream is deectcd downwardly along the outer wall of the trough, whereby some of the entrained moisture contacts with and adheres to the trough wall and flows down to the bottom of the trough. The relative arrangement of the openings 25 in adjacent baille plates causes the stream to curve upwardly, as shown, and to enter an opening 25 in the superpo'sed baffle 23 longitudinally spaced from the opening through which it passed in the lowermost baille plate. The change in direction occurs in a vertical plane, so that moisture separated by inertia passes along the trough and rapidly drops into the low turbulence zone 'at the bottom of the trough. The separated moisture collects at the lower end of the separator plates until it is sufficient to overilow over the upper edge of the plate 22 into the pool in the bottom oi the drum, while the dry steam passes to the outlet pipe l.

A method of liquid and gas separation is thus provided in which the wet gas is passed through a ow path in contact with a series of relatively large liquid collecting surfaces arranged substantially tangential to the flow path. The liquid is separated by adhesion to the contacted collecting surfaces and inertia on the changes in direction of the gas stream and iiows along the bottom of protected troughs by gravity to a pool in the drum, the separated liquid being out of the main path of gas iiow throughout its substantially entire flow path.

While in accordance with the provisions of the the statutes I have illustrated and described herein the best forms of my invention now known to me, those skilled in the art will understand that changes may be made in the form of the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention covered by my claims. and that certain features of my invention may sometimes be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

I claim:

1. In a separator, a balde having an opening therethrough, a plurality of members disposed on opposite sides of said baille over said opening, the members on each side being spaced apart and those on one side being staggered with respect to those on the other side, whereby a plurality of devious paths is provided for the passage of huid through the opening.

2. In a separator, a bafe having an opening therethrough, a plurality of members disposed on each of the opposite sides of the baille and partially closing said opening. said members on opposite sides being staggered with respect to each other and thereby forming devious paths for the passage of a fluid through said opening, one of said members having flanges extending toward said baille, and a corrugated sheet disposed between said flanges with the corrugations running parallel thereto, and perforated for the passage of fluid.

3. In a separator, a baille having an opening therethrough, and a. plurality of members disposed on each of the opposite sides of the baille and partially closing said opening, said members on opposite sides being staggered with respect to each other and thereby forming devious paths for the passage of a fluid through said opening, one of said members having flanges extending toward the baille.

4. In a separator, means forming a path for a fluid passing through the separator, a corrugated sheet disposed in said path with the length of the corrugations extending transversely to the direction of travel of the fluid, said corrugations having perforations therein through which the fluid may pass, and deilectors disposed adjacent said perforations and inclined to the surfaces of the corrugations in which the perforations occur and lengthwise of said corrugations, whereby iiuid passing through the perforations is caused to pass along said surfaces.

5. In a separator, means forming a path for a fluid passing through the separator, a corrugated sheet disposed in said path with the length of the corrugations extending transversely to the direction of travel of the fluid, said corrugations having perforations therein through which the iiuid may pass, and deectors disposed adjacent said perforations and inclined to the surfaces of the corrugations in which the perforations occur and lengthwise of said corrugations, whereby uid passing through the perforations is caused to pass along said surfaces, said defiectors being formed of metal struck up from the corrugations to form the perforations.

6. In a separator. means forming a path for a fluid passing through the separator, a corrugated sheet disposed in said path with the length of the corrugations extending transversely to the direction of travel of the fluid, said corrugations having perforations therein through which the fluid may pass and being inclined lengthwise, whereby liquid separated from the fluid may drain along said corrugations, and deectors disposed adjacent said perforations and inclined to the surfaces of the corrugations in which the perforations occur, said deflectors being constructed to deflect fluid issuing from the perforations downwardly along the inclined sides of said corrugations.

7. In a separator, means forming a path for a fluid passing through the separator, a, corrugated sheet disposed in said path with the length of the corrugations extending transversely to the direction of travel of the iluid, said corrugations having perforations therein through which the fluid may pass and being inclined lengthwise, whereby liquid separated from the iluid may drain along said corrugations, and deflectors disposed adjacent said perforations and inclined to the surfaces of the corrugations in which the perforations occur, whereby iluid passing through the perforations is caused to pass along said surfaces, said deflectors being formed of metal struck up from the corrugations to form the perforations with the free edges of the deilectors disposed at the lower end thereof, vwhereby the fluid will be deflected downwardly along said inclined surfaces.

8, In a separator for separating the liquid and gas in a stream of mixed liquid and gas, a series of extended surfaces placed one after the other along the general path followed by said stream, all of said surfaces being arranged at substantially the same small acute angle with respect to the direction of flow of said stream, said angle being of such a value that said stream will pass along each of said suri'aces in the same direction and substantially tangent thereto upon meeting it and thereby have extended contact therewith to cause the liquid to adhere thereto, one end of each surface being higher than the other, whereby particles of liquid adhering thereto may run down said surface.

9. The method of separating a liquid from a wet gas which comprises passing the wet gas substantially tangentially along a series of liquid collecting surfaces of substantial area in substantially the same direction and without impinging on any collecting surface in its flow path at an abrupt angle, collecting the separated liquid on surfaces out of the main path of gas ilow, and removing the separated liquid from the last mentioned surfaces by gravity.

10. In a steam and Water drum having steam and water tubes connected thereto along one side thereof and a steam outlet in its upper side, a baffle plate extending from the drum wall intermediate said tubes and steam outlet to a level below the normal water level in said drum and having an opening therein above the normal water level, and a steam and water separator positioned in said opening and comprising a plurality of side-by-side corrugated plates arranged to form moisture collecting surfaces,

11. In a steam and water drum having steam and water circulators connected thereto along one side thereof and a steam outlet in its upper side, a baille plate extending from the drum wall intermediate said circulators and steam outlet to a level below the normal water level in said drum and having an opening therein above the normal water level, and a steam and water separator positioned in said opening and comprising a plurality of side-by-side substantially parallel corrugated plates having steam passages therebetween and arranged to form extended moisture collecting surfaces.

12. In a boiler, the combination with a steam and water drum and boiler tubes delivering thereinto, of a water removing device including a screen inclined between the vertical and horizontal and having spaced vertically extending wires, said device being disposed within the drum so as to have the discharge of the tubes impinge on the screen in a generally downward direction and at an angle between a right and a straight angle.

13. In a boiler, the combination with a steam and water drum and boiler tubes delivering thereinto, oi a water removing screen device within the drum, said device being so arranged with relation to the tubes that the discharge of the tubes impinges on the screen at an angle substantially less than a right angle.

14. In a steam boiler, the combination with a steam and water drum and boiler tubes delivering thereinto, of a moisture separating device within the drum comprising a plurality of wire screens spaced apart transversely of said drum, said device being so arranged with relation to said boiler tubes that the discharge from said boiler tubes impinges on said device at an angle substantially less than a. right angle.

lll

15. In a steam boiler, the combination with a horizontally arranged steam and water drum having a steam outlet in the upper part thereof and boiler tubes delivering thereinto along one side thereof, of a moisture separating device extending longitudinally oi the steam space ci said drum in the path oi ow between said boiler tubes and steam outlet and comprising a plurality of wire screens spaced apart transversely of said drum and having vertically extending wires arranged at an inclination between the horizontal and vertical towards said boiler tubes.

16. In a steam boiler, the combination ci' a horizontally arranged steam and water drum having a steam outlet in the upper part thereoi' and boiler tubes delivering thereinto along one side thereof, of a moisture separating device extending longitudinally of the steam space of said drum in the path of ilow between said boiler tubes and steam outlet and comprising a GERTIFICATE Patent No 2,127, 917.

JAMES plurality of parallel wire mesh screens, and means for holding said screens spaced apart transversely of said drum and at an inclination between the horizontal and vertical towards said boiler tubes.

11. In a steam boiler. the combination with a horizontally arranged steam and water drum having a steam outlet in the upper part thereof and boiler tubes delivering thereinto along one side thereof, of a moisture separating device extending longitudinally of the steam space of said drum in the path oi now between said boiler tubes and steam outlet and so arranged with relation to said boiler tubes that the discharge from said boiler tubes impinges on said device at an angle substantially less than a right angle. said device comprising a plurality of inclined wire mesh screens spaced apart transversely o! said drum.

JALEES C. HOBBS.

0F CORRECTION.

August 25.. 1958.

C. HOBBS.

It is herebycertified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, second column, line 16, for the word "is" read it; line Th., claim 2, for "the" before "baffle" read said; and line 75, same claim, for "'said" before "members" read the; page 5, first column, 1ine10,c1aim 5, for "the" before "baffle" `read said; and line 11, same claim, for "said" before "members" read the; same page, second column, lines 58 and lil, claim 1l, for circulators" read tubes;i and that the said Letters Patent should be read 4with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case 1n the Patentfoffie.

signed and sealed this 22nd day of November, 1i. D. 195B;4

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

15. In a steam boiler, the combination with a horizontally arranged steam and water drum having a steam outlet in the upper part thereof and boiler tubes delivering thereinto along one side thereof, of a moisture separating device extending longitudinally oi the steam space ci said drum in the path oi ow between said boiler tubes and steam outlet and comprising a plurality of wire screens spaced apart transversely of said drum and having vertically extending wires arranged at an inclination between the horizontal and vertical towards said boiler tubes.

16. In a steam boiler, the combination ci' a horizontally arranged steam and water drum having a steam outlet in the upper part thereoi' and boiler tubes delivering thereinto along one side thereof, of a moisture separating device extending longitudinally of the steam space of said drum in the path of ilow between said boiler tubes and steam outlet and comprising a GERTIFICATE Patent No 2,127, 917.

JAMES plurality of parallel wire mesh screens, and means for holding said screens spaced apart transversely of said drum and at an inclination between the horizontal and vertical towards said boiler tubes.

11. In a steam boiler. the combination with a horizontally arranged steam and water drum having a steam outlet in the upper part thereof and boiler tubes delivering thereinto along one side thereof, of a moisture separating device extending longitudinally of the steam space of said drum in the path oi now between said boiler tubes and steam outlet and so arranged with relation to said boiler tubes that the discharge from said boiler tubes impinges on said device at an angle substantially less than a right angle. said device comprising a plurality of inclined wire mesh screens spaced apart transversely o! said drum.

JALEES C. HOBBS.

0F CORRECTION.

August 25.. 1958.

C. HOBBS.

It is herebycertified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, second column, line 16, for the word "is" read it; line Th., claim 2, for "the" before "baffle" read said; and line 75, same claim, for "'said" before "members" read the; page 5, first column, 1ine10,c1aim 5, for "the" before "baffle" `read said; and line 11, same claim, for "said" before "members" read the; same page, second column, lines 58 and lil, claim 1l, for circulators" read tubes;i and that the said Letters Patent should be read 4with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case 1n the Patentfoffie.

signed and sealed this 22nd day of November, 1i. D. 195B;4

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

